Patients’ perception of communication at the interface between primary and secondary care: a cross-sectional survey in 34 countries
Abstract Background Poor communication between general practitioners (GPs) and medical specialists can lead to poorer quality, and continuity, of care. Our study aims to assess patients’ perceptions of communication at the interface between primary and secondary care in 34 countries. It will analyse...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-4848-9 |
| _version_ | 1819052013710737408 |
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| author | Giacomo Scaioli Willemijn L. A. Schäfer Wienke G. W. Boerma Peter Spreeuwenberg Michael van den Berg François G. Schellevis Peter P. Groenewegen |
| author_facet | Giacomo Scaioli Willemijn L. A. Schäfer Wienke G. W. Boerma Peter Spreeuwenberg Michael van den Berg François G. Schellevis Peter P. Groenewegen |
| author_sort | Giacomo Scaioli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Poor communication between general practitioners (GPs) and medical specialists can lead to poorer quality, and continuity, of care. Our study aims to assess patients’ perceptions of communication at the interface between primary and secondary care in 34 countries. It will analyse, too, whether this communication is associated with the organisation of primary care within a country, and with the characteristics of GPs and their patients. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey among patients in 34 countries. Following a GP consultation, patients were asked two questions. Did they take to understand that their GP had informed medical specialists about their illness upon referral? And, secondly, did their GP know the results of the treatment by a medical specialist? We used multi-response logistic multilevel models to investigate the association of factors related to primary care, the GP, and the patient, with the patients’ perceptions of communication at the interface between primary and secondary care. Results In total, 61,931 patients completed the questionnaire. We found large differences between countries, in both the patients’ perceptions of information shared by GPs with medical specialists, and the patients’ perceptions of the GPs’ awareness of the results of treatment by medical specialists. Patients whose GPs stated that they ‘seldom or never’ send referral letters, also less frequently perceived that their GP communicated with their medical specialists about their illness. Patients with GPs indicating they ‘seldom or never’ receive feedback from medical specialists, indicated less frequently that their GP would know the results of treatment by a medical specialist. Moreover, patients with a personal doctor perceived higher rates of communication in both directions at the interface between primary and secondary care. Conclusion Generally, patients perceive there to be high rates of communication at the interface between primary and secondary care, but there are large differences between countries. Policies aimed at stimulating personal doctor arrangements could, potentially, enhance the continuity of care between primary and secondary care. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T12:13:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5f90c7552b6f4e77b62a2b8cacbb216e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T12:13:05Z |
| publishDate | 2019-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-5f90c7552b6f4e77b62a2b8cacbb216e2022-12-21T19:04:31ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632019-12-0119111110.1186/s12913-019-4848-9Patients’ perception of communication at the interface between primary and secondary care: a cross-sectional survey in 34 countriesGiacomo Scaioli0Willemijn L. A. Schäfer1Wienke G. W. Boerma2Peter Spreeuwenberg3Michael van den Berg4François G. Schellevis5Peter P. Groenewegen6Department of Public Health Sciences, University of TurinDepartment of Surgery, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of MedicineNIVEL (Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research)NIVEL (Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research)Department of Public Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research InstituteNIVEL (Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research)NIVEL (Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research)Abstract Background Poor communication between general practitioners (GPs) and medical specialists can lead to poorer quality, and continuity, of care. Our study aims to assess patients’ perceptions of communication at the interface between primary and secondary care in 34 countries. It will analyse, too, whether this communication is associated with the organisation of primary care within a country, and with the characteristics of GPs and their patients. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey among patients in 34 countries. Following a GP consultation, patients were asked two questions. Did they take to understand that their GP had informed medical specialists about their illness upon referral? And, secondly, did their GP know the results of the treatment by a medical specialist? We used multi-response logistic multilevel models to investigate the association of factors related to primary care, the GP, and the patient, with the patients’ perceptions of communication at the interface between primary and secondary care. Results In total, 61,931 patients completed the questionnaire. We found large differences between countries, in both the patients’ perceptions of information shared by GPs with medical specialists, and the patients’ perceptions of the GPs’ awareness of the results of treatment by medical specialists. Patients whose GPs stated that they ‘seldom or never’ send referral letters, also less frequently perceived that their GP communicated with their medical specialists about their illness. Patients with GPs indicating they ‘seldom or never’ receive feedback from medical specialists, indicated less frequently that their GP would know the results of treatment by a medical specialist. Moreover, patients with a personal doctor perceived higher rates of communication in both directions at the interface between primary and secondary care. Conclusion Generally, patients perceive there to be high rates of communication at the interface between primary and secondary care, but there are large differences between countries. Policies aimed at stimulating personal doctor arrangements could, potentially, enhance the continuity of care between primary and secondary care.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-4848-9Patient viewsCommunicationPrimary careSecondary careReferrals |
| spellingShingle | Giacomo Scaioli Willemijn L. A. Schäfer Wienke G. W. Boerma Peter Spreeuwenberg Michael van den Berg François G. Schellevis Peter P. Groenewegen Patients’ perception of communication at the interface between primary and secondary care: a cross-sectional survey in 34 countries BMC Health Services Research Patient views Communication Primary care Secondary care Referrals |
| title | Patients’ perception of communication at the interface between primary and secondary care: a cross-sectional survey in 34 countries |
| title_full | Patients’ perception of communication at the interface between primary and secondary care: a cross-sectional survey in 34 countries |
| title_fullStr | Patients’ perception of communication at the interface between primary and secondary care: a cross-sectional survey in 34 countries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Patients’ perception of communication at the interface between primary and secondary care: a cross-sectional survey in 34 countries |
| title_short | Patients’ perception of communication at the interface between primary and secondary care: a cross-sectional survey in 34 countries |
| title_sort | patients perception of communication at the interface between primary and secondary care a cross sectional survey in 34 countries |
| topic | Patient views Communication Primary care Secondary care Referrals |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-4848-9 |
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